Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help increase productivity within his Department through the use of (a) artificial intelligence and (b) effective use of data.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to improving its productivity and is establishing a central Productivity Portfolio to break down the barriers to productive working, and is actively investigating opportunities to drive productivity through the use of AI and the effective use of data while rigorously managing the risk of using these capabilities to support human analysis and decision making. This includes using informational chatbots, machine learning applications and generative AI to automate and accelerate routine business operations and policy work; through to Defence-specific opportunities driven by data to enhance the speed of decision-making, optimise logistics or increase the availability of military capabilities.

We draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform our AI and data usage. For example, the Generative AI Framework, the Data Maturity Assessment, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, and the Data Ethics Framework. The Department also has access to the Central Digital & Data Office, based in the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, for expert advice.

We will continue to regularly review our usage of AI and data to maximise productivity benefits for staff and the public.